Fine grading machine



Ap 9,'1940. H. J. ADLER FINE GRADING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 1 A. -mfmll April 9, 1940-I H. J. ADLER 2,196,513

FINE GRADING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ma 5W WPatented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED STATE-s;

. 2,196,513 FINEy GRADiNG yMACHINE Henry J. Adler, YakimaQWash.,assigner of one.- third to Roy M. King, andorre-third to J. L. James,both of Yakima, Wash. v

Application March 9, 1938,Serial No. 194,979

" 2 claims. (c1. 37-80) The purpose of the present invention is toprovide a machine for effecting fine or finish grading. 'While themachine is adapted for use in many different relations, as will behereinafter set forth, it is particularly intended to rapidly andaccurately shape and grade the inclined sides of irrigation ditches.Further objects and advantages of the invention will be setA forth inthe detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the machine, showing the same inposition to grade vthe opposed sides of an irrigation ditch;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in section of one ofthe toothed or spiked cylinders, and

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of aportion of one of said cylinders.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the severalfigures of the drawings.`

The particular form of frame employed is immaterial, since it ismanifest that the frame may be constructed in many different ways. Inthe particular embodiment of the invention which I have chosen forpurposes of illustration, the Aframe is composed of vstructural steelmembers, such as conventional channel and I-beams, and compriseshorizontal top rails 5, suitable braces 6, and the inclined rails 1,which serve to sup-y port the spiked cylinders I6, hereinafterdescribed. y

The top rails 5 extend outwardly beyond the inclined rails I and aresuitably attached at their outer ends to side rails 8. Track wheels 9support the side rails 8 and are adapted to travel upon track rails Il),disposed along the opposite sides vof the irrigation ditch, the bottomof which is indicated kat I I and the inclined sides of which areindicated at I2 and I3. Mounted in bearings I4, supported from the undersides of the inclined rails 1, are the shafts I5 of the spiked cylindersI6. These cylinders carry a multiplicity of sockets I'I, adapted toreceive teeth I8, formed of square bar steel, beveled at their ends asindicated at I9. These teeth. may be held in adjustedposition by setscrews 20. The sockets are preferably braced against the `thrust of theteeth under the working action of the machine by suitable braces 2|,which are welded to the cylinderandtotherespective braces. Many -waysmay be resorted to of mounting these teeth in the cylinder, and it is tobe understood that the invention is to be broadly construed in thisrespect.

The sockets I 'I are so located as to dispose the teeth IB spirallyaround the cylinders, Any suitable motor, such as anninternalvcombustion engine indicated at 22 may be utilized to drive l thespikedcylinders I6 through the medium of '5 any suitable interposed gearing,indicated in a general way at `23, and including -a clutch 23a.` Themachine of the present invention is intended to befused after the heavyexcavation of the irrigation ditch has been completed. When l0 themachineis'used, the motor 22 is caused to .turn the cylinders forwardlyagainst the ditch bank, looseningA the soil as the machine proceeds Byemployingthis spiral placement'of the tools f and 'effecting rotation ofthe cylinders inde'- 15 pendently ofthe rate of forward'movement of themachine as awhole, the entire surface of the ground can be covered tojust the extent and in just the way desired. n y

It is clear that by varying the rate of speed 20 of the cylinders withrespect to the rate of travel of the machine as a whole, varying effectsin the feeding'of they dirt endwise of the cylinders may ybe had totakecare of the varying conditions under which the machine may be,operated. It is this capability` of the rcylinders toV be driven atrates of. speed which are independent of the rate of speed of travel ofthe machine as arwhole which adapts this machine to perform the functionof effecting a ne or Afinish grading, because with the machine travelingrelatively slowly, for example, and the cylinders traveling much faster,it follows that the surface of the ground may be pulverized to a .muchgreater extent than would be the caseI if the cylinder travel was insuch relation -to the forward movement of the machine as to give onlyone raking ofthe teeth through the earth during the passage of thecylinder over a given point. Where a given point is traversed a numberof times by the teeth during the passage of the machine, the soil ismade sufliciently ne that a fine, finish grade may be imparted to theinclined banks of irrigation ditches. y

In many cases, these ditches are built under contracts which requirethat they be left so uniformly and smoothly graded as to be ready forthe laying of concrete aprons thereon,`and one of the functions of thepresent machine is to grade rditches having inclined banks in so fine,true and uniform a way as toA render it possible to lay a straight andtrue bed of concrete'thereon Without further grading.

I am aware of the fact that it ,has` been proposed to use machineshaving toothed cylinders operating in water for the purpose of clearingold ditches 'of accumulated debris, and wherein the matter released bythe cylinders is carried off in fluid form through pumps.` I claim nosuch arrangement, but upon the contrary claim these inclined cylindersonly when so correlated, arranged, and driven as to-fine grade the drybanks of newly formed ditches.

While I have chosen to show teeth formed of square stock, I wish to makeit clearthat the invention contemplates the use of teeth of varyingshapes according to the work to be done. Further, even when employingteethA square in cross section, these may be set to cut to varyingdepths or at any desired inclination, it being clear that this would bedetermined by the. setting of the sockets with respect to the cylinders.

The capability of the machine to drive the spiked cylindersindependently of the forward movement of the machine has the addedadvantage that it permits the operator to hold the cylindersinoperationlonger upon a hard clay bank, for

example, than would be necessary uponr aV softV earth portion of theditch.` By virtue of this capability, the machine is adapted to=accurately shape ditches to a lineI graded finish, ready for pendentlyof the rate of travel of thelmachine,

the machine may be actuated by the same source of4 power which drivesAthe cylinders, and the whole may be caused toF operate in unison. In

that'case, the rate of speed of thewhole machine would be in determinedrelation to they rate, of rotationv of the cylinders. To indicate thatthis may bedoneJ have indicated gearing 24 between the motor and onepair of the track wheels, including a conventional clutch 214B.

While this machine-is of primary utility inthe iinal` grading ofirrigation ditches, it will also be found to be of utility in many otherrelations. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the precise construction and arrangement shown, but that itincludes Within its purview whatever changes fairly come within eitherthe terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my claim is:

1. A machine of the character described comprising a `supporting frame,a trackway, wheels supporting said frame upon the trackway, an

invention,

, engine upon the frame, a pair of transverse shafts upon. the frame,means for driving either of said shafts from the engine independently ofthe other, gearing between one of said shafts and the supporting wheelsof the frame, a pair of cylinders supported one at each side of theframe and at such an angle of inclination as to conform to and shape theside walls of a dry ditch. to be-cleare'd, means for driving saidcylinders from;V the other of said shafts, and spiked teethv carried bysaid cylinders and arranged spirallythe independent drive ofthecylinders with respect to the driving means of the supporting; wheelspermitting said cylinders to be driven at such a rate of speed as topulverize and fine grade the inclined walls of dry ditches.

2. In a machine of the character described, for simultaneously negradingtheV opposed sides of dry, V-shaped irrigation ditches, a pair ofelongated cylinders; studded with spirally arranged spike-like teeth,said cylinders inclining upwardlyandoutwardly toA conform to theinclination oi the walls of theditchbeing graded, a frame adapted tospan the ditch, mea-ns for mountingthe cylinders to-turn in said fra-me,

said :trame holding the cylinders in uniformly spaced relation to eachother, a trackway, track lwheels upon which the frame is mounted, an

engine upon the` frame,v means for driving the track wheelsfrom saidengi-ne, means for driving the spiked cylinders from, the engineindependently of the drive from-the engine tov the' track wheels, theindependent 'l drive of the cylinders with respect to the driving meansof the track wheels permitting.. saidv cylinders to be driven at such.a. rate of speed. as to pulverize andi'lne grade the` inclinedl walls.of Adry ditches.

HENRY '.I. ADLER.

what I

